The article discusses the ongoing political fracture between the United States and Europe, emphasizing that it is a deep political change rather than a temporary rhetorical incident, regardless of the outcome of the upcoming U.S. presidential elections.
The article critiques the psychological tendencies in political perception, particularly how individuals and political entities often cling to comforting narratives while ignoring contrary evidence. This is evident in the response to remarks made by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the 2026 Munich Security Conference, where many Europeans are seen as selectively focusing on his tone rather than the substantive implications of his message.
The underlying structural reality highlighted in the article is that the fracture between America and Europe represents a profound political shift rather than a mere rhetorical disagreement. The author argues that even if a Democrat occupies the White House in 2028, the underlying dynamics will not revert to what they were in the past. The 2024 elections demonstrated the ease with which a leader like Donald Trump, with a similar political style, could emerge again, indicating that the changes in U.S. foreign policy and Atlantic relations are likely to be enduring.
The piece concludes that misconstruing this transformation as a temporary phase reflects a misunderstanding of the new political landscape. The article posits that looking at Rubio as a symbol of continuity with a nostalgically remembered past is misleading, as it overlooks the significant shifts that have occurred within U.S. political culture and its implications for transatlantic relations.
